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So you want to impress at your singing audition? Auditioning for a competition and any part is about so much more than the way you sing in front of those judging you. Preparing for your singing audition and making sure you’re in the right mindset is just as important, here are some audition tips for singers to help prepare.
How to impress at the audition
Firstly, if you’ve entered for the audition, you must be prepared for anything that may happen. Know your song inside out. Don’t ever read the lyrics off a piece of paper as that shows you have not practised and are not ready for the audition. You should practise so much that you can’t get it wrong.
Before your audition
- Practice!! Know your audition song like the back of your hand! You will be nervous in the audition room so the song needs to come naturally to you.
- Dress smart! Dress like you would on stage. Make sure your image matches your style. If you sing like Freddie Mercury you would not dress like Marilyn Manson!
- If singing a cover, put your own stamp on it. Maybe play with the arrangement or musical style to suit your style. Singing a carbon copy won’t show the judges anything about you! You need to think outside the box. It’s an audition, not a karaoke session.
- Look after your vocals leading up to the audition. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and smoking.
- One of our most important audition tips is to warm up your vocals properly before to get the most of our vocal.
How to prepare
Check your gear
If using a backing track on a CD make sure it works correctly on a number of formats and also take a backup on a different format like a memory stick to the audition. Avoid having a backup on your phone as it will have to rely on the connection. Double check the track is the right song, and ideally the only song to minimise the risk of errors.
If you’re playing an instrument, have it tuned already and have spare parts with you; such as fully charged batteries, spare strings and a strap, all of which you will need at some point for the audition if they decide to break or stop functioning. Also a tuner is handy even if you normally tune by ear, just to double check the tuning.
Look the part
You have to impress both visually and vocally, so having the right outfit can affect the audition. Your outfit needs to reflect who you are as a person and what you’re singing; so select outfits that stand out, you feel comfortable in, reflect your personality and the music you are performing. Many acts have carved a reputation for what they wear over and above their music at times.
During your audition
- The audition starts the moment you walk through the door. The judges will critic you on your attitude the moment you step foot through the door! Give them a smile, it will be remembered!
- If you have any demo recordings, place them on the judge’s table when you enter. They will see professionalism at being one step ahead with the demo recordings and may just take a little more interest when you are performing.
- Time will be tight! Start your performance with the strongest part of the song. Songs like Adele’s ‘Make You Feel My love’ take too long to get to the chorus and on a busy day this will frustrate the judges.
- The audition isn’t just about your image and vocal, your performance value will be noticed. Try to avoid being rooted to the spot, treat the area as a stage and use it!
- Eye contact is essential! Avoid looking at the ground; give the judges a reason to keep their eyes on you. Engage with your audience which in this case is the judges.
- Thank the judges as you leave the room. Keep polite and courteous. The audition isn’t over until you leave the room. Being grateful for an opportunity is one of the best audition tips for singers.
Be original
If you’re auditioning for a record or management deal they are most likely to want to find something new that they don’t already have, so make sure the audition is original and memorable. If you’ve got an original song, then play it: it shows courage.
Try to relax
Easier said than done but if you’ve built the confidence you must learn to live with the nerves and don’t let them control you. Always remember those judging you will the audition to go well! So you’ve obviously potentially got something they want. Keep composed and take a few breaths so you don’t rush the song.
Perform
It’s not just about singing, you’ve got to be able to take that song and make it a performance. You have to own the stage at the audition, make the audience believe it’s yours. The most successful artists can make the whole crowd believe in their performance.
Communicate
Understand what you’re singing, know what the message is behind the song and let us know through your performance. Eye contact is a strong way to communicate with your audience during the audition and make sure the expression shows through.
Listen
Auditions are a great way to receive feedback and it is likely to take many auditions before you start to have success. So try where possible to get feedback from the audition. It might be the constructive criticism you need to make that next step. Make sure you look at your feedback, as you might not be aware of the one thing holding you back.
Enjoy yourself
Music is a beautiful thing and as singers you all have a common passion for music. Make sure your audience know how much you’re enjoying the audition and that this is all you want to do.
Whether or not you are successful, consider it valuable experience. Make the most of any feedback you are given. Use it constructively and implement it into your performance for future auditions. Don’t let it bring you down; if you believe in your ability you will bounce back. More doors close before one opens, you just have to be ready! One of our best auditions tips is to never give up if you want it enough, you’ll keep going!